Female terminal assembly with compression clip

Abstract

A female terminal assembly includes a core terminal part and a generally U-shaped clip part. The core terminal part is fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and includes a generally U-shaped channel member. The generally-U-shaped channel member defines a generally U-shaped channel extending therethough and an opening into the generally U-shaped channel by a pair of side members interconnected together by a base member. The generally U-shaped clip part is fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and includes a generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a generally U-shaped clip part channel. The generally U-shaped clip part is sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and is operative to apply opposing compression forces to generally the pair of side members of the U-shaped channel member urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel.

1. A female terminal assembly, comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a generally U-shaped channel member defining a generally U-shaped channel extending therethough, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member and a pair of side members extending generally parallel to one another, the pair of side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the base member to terminate in respective side member end portions defining an opening into the generally U-shaped channel facially opposing the base member; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a generally U-shaped clip part channel extending therethrough, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein the core terminal part includes an attachment member connected to one of the pair of side members. 
 
   
   
     2. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein respective ones of the pair of side members move from a normal state to an outwardly flexed state and from the normal state to an inwardly flexed state, the respective ones of the pair of side members being resiliently biased to the normal state. 
   
   
     3. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the generally U-shaped clip part channel member is sized to receive the generally U-shaped channel member in a close-fitting relationship and includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member. 
   
   
     4. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein respective ones of the pair of clip part side members move from a normal condition to an outwardly flexed condition and from the normal condition state to an inwardly flexed condition, the respective ones of the pair of clip part side members being resiliently biased to the normal condition. 
   
   
     5. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the generally U-shaped clip part includes a C-clamp piece connected to one of the pair of clip part side members, the C-clamp piece is sized and operative to clamp onto the attachment member. 
   
   
     6. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the attachment member includes a first panel connected to one of the pair of side members and is disposed in a common plane with the one of the pair of side members. 
 
   
   
     7. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the attachment member includes a second panel and an intermediate panel disposed between and connected to the first and second panels, the second panel being disposed in a second panel plane extending parallel to the common plane. 
   
   
     8. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate panel interconnects the first and second panels and extends obliquely relative to either one of the first and second panels. 
   
   
     9. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the attachment member includes a sleeve connected to the first panel with the first panel being disposed between the one of the pair of side members and the sleeve. 
   
   
     10. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of the pair of side members includes a first protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the side member end portions and forming a corresponding first recess, the first protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the first protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other. 
   
   
     11. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein each one of the pair of side members includes a second protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the base member and forming a corresponding second recess, the second protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the second protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other. 
   
   
     12. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the generally U-shaped clip part channel member includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member, each one of the pair of clip part side members includes a clip part protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped clip part channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the clip part side member end portions and forming a corresponding clip part recess, the clip part protrusion of one of the pair of clip part side members and the clip part protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of clip part side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other. 
   
   
     13. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein respective ones of the clip part protrusions nestle into respective ones of the first recesses. 
   
   
     14. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the base member and the clip part base member are disposed at least adjacent to each other. 
   
   
     15. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the respective clip part side member end portions taper inwardly from the clip part opening and towards each other into the generally U-shaped clip part channel to form a generally V-shaped clip part channel portion as viewed in cross-section. 
   
   
     16. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective side member end portions taper inwardly from the opening and towards each other into the generally U-shaped channel to form a generally V-shaped channel portion as viewed in cross-section. 
   
   
     17. A female terminal assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a generally U-shaped channel member defining a generally U-shaped channel extending therethough, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member and a pair of side members extending generally parallel to one another, the pair of side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the base member to terminate in respective side member end portions defining an opening into the generally U-shaped channel facially opposing the base member; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a generally U-shaped clip part channel extending therethrough, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein one of the pair of side members includes a plurality of prong elements. 
 
   
   
     18. A female terminal assembly, comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a generally U-shaped channel member defining a generally U-shaped channel extending therethough, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member and a pair of side members extending generally parallel to one another, the pair of side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the base member to terminate in respective side member end portions defining an opening into the generally U-shaped channel facially opposing the base member; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a generally U-shaped clip part channel extending therethrough, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein one of the pair of clip part side members includes a plurality of individual panel segments. 
 
   
   
     19. A female terminal assembly, comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped channel member defining a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped channel, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member extending longitudinally and laterally and a pair of side members extending longitudinally, transversely and generally parallel to one another, the pair of side members disposed laterally apart from one another, connected longitudinally along the base member and extending transversely therefrom to terminate in respective side member end portions defining a longitudinally and laterally extending opening into the generally U-shaped channel facially opposing the base member; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein each one of the pair of side members includes a first protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the side member end portions and forming a corresponding first recess, the first protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the first protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, each one of the pair of side members includes a second protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the base member and forming a corresponding second recess, the second protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the second protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, the generally U-shaped clip part channel member includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member, each one of the pair of clip part side members includes a clip part protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped clip part channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the clip part side member end portions and forming a corresponding clip part recess, the clip part protrusion of one of the pair of clip part side members and the clip part protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of clip part side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, respective ones of the clip part protrusions nestle into respective ones of the first recesses, and 
 wherein the generally U-shaped clip part includes a folded-back element and a stop element, the folded-back element is connected to one of the pair of the clip part side members to extend transversely and first longitudinally forwardly and then folded backwardly, the stop element is connected to the clip part base member to extend laterally and first longitudinally forwardly and then folded toward the generally U-shaped clip part channel. 
 
   
   
     20. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein respective ones of the pair of side members move from a normal state to an outwardly flexed state and from the normal state to an inwardly flexed state, the respective ones of the pair of side members being resiliently biased to the normal state, the generally U-shaped clip part channel member is sized to receive the generally U-shaped channel member in a close-fitting relationship and includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member and respective ones of the pair of clip part side members move from a normal condition to an outwardly flexed condition and from the normal condition state to an inwardly flexed condition, the respective ones of the pair of clip part side members being resiliently biased to the normal condition. 
   
   
     21. A female terminal assembly, comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped channel member defining a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped channel, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member extending longitudinally and laterally and a pair of side members extending longitudinally, transversely and generally parallel to one another; the pair of side members disposed laterally apart from one another, connected longitudinally along the base member and extending transversely therefrom to terminate in respective side member end portions defining a longitudinally and laterally extending opening into the generally U-shaped channel facially opposing the base member; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein respective ones of the pair of side members move from a normal state to an outwardly flexed state and from the normal state to an inwardly flexed state, the respective ones of the pair of side members being resiliently biased to the normal state, the generally U-shaped clip part channel member is sized to receive the generally U-shaped channel member in a close-fitting relationship and includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member and respective ones of the pair of clip part side members move from a normal condition to an outwardly flexed condition and from the normal condition state to an inwardly flexed condition, the respective ones of the pair of clip part side members being resiliently biased to the normal condition, and 
 wherein at least one of the pair of side members is formed as a plurality of prong elements and at least one of the pair of clip part side members is formed as a plurality of individual panel segments. 
 
   
   
     22. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein each one of the pair of side members includes a first protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the side member end portions and forming a corresponding first recess, the first protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the first protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, each one of the pair of side members includes a second protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the base member and forming a corresponding second recess, the second protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the second protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, the generally U-shaped clip part channel member includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member, each one of the pair of clip part side members includes a clip part protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped clip part channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the clip part side member end portions and forming a corresponding clip part recess, the clip part protrusion of one of the pair of clip part side members and the clip part protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of clip part side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, respective ones of the clip part protrusions nestle into respective ones of the first recesses. 
   
   
     23. A female terminal assembly, comprising:
 a core terminal part fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped channel member defining a transversely-extending generally U-shaped channel, the generally U-shaped channel member having a base member extending transversely and laterally and a pair of side members extending longitudinally, transversely and generally parallel to one another, the pair of side members disposed laterally apart from one another, connected transversely along the base member and extending longitudinally therefrom to terminate in transversely-extending respective side member end portions; and 
 a generally U-shaped clip part fabricated from a stiff yet resilient material and including a longitudinally-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel member defining a transversely-extending generally U-shaped clip part channel, the generally U-shaped clip part sized to substantially cover the generally U-shaped channel member and operative to apply opposing compression forces to the respective side member end portions thereby urging the pair of side members towards each other and into the generally U-shaped channel, 
 wherein the core terminal part includes an attachment member connected to one of the respective side member end portions. 
 
   
   
     24. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each one of the pair of side members includes a first protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the side member end portions and forming a corresponding first recess, the first protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the first protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, each one of the pair of side members includes a second protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the base member and forming a corresponding second recess, the second protrusion of one of the pair of side members and the second protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, the generally U-shaped clip part channel member includes a clip part base member and a pair of clip part side members disposed apart from one another and connected to the clip part base member to terminate in respective clip part side member end portions defining a clip part opening into the generally U-shaped clip part channel facially opposing the clip part base member, each one of the pair of clip part side members includes a clip part protrusion projecting into the generally U-shaped clip part channel disposed adjacent and extending parallel to the respective ones of the clip part side member end portions and forming a corresponding clip part recess, the clip part protrusion of one of the pair of clip part side members and the clip part protrusion of a remaining one of the pair of clip part side members being facially opposed to and disposed apart from each other, respective ones of the clip part protrusions nestle into respective ones of the first recesses. 
   
   
     25. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the attachment member includes a longitudinally-extending sleeve and a first panel connected to and between the one of the respective side member end portions and the sleeve. 
   
   
     26. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the attachment member includes at least three longitudinally and transversely-extending stop pieces connected to and extending laterally from the first panel, each one of the at least three stop pieces spanning laterally across the U-shaped channel. 
   
   
     27. The female terminal assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the attachment member includes a longitudinally and transversely-extending bridge element interconnecting the first panel and the sleeve, the bridge element tapering from the first panel and towards the sleeve.